quatermass in motion

Continuing Scoop's recent thread about Quatermass I was amazed to see that Monsters in Motion of California stock a Mego-like Quatermass action doll from the Quatermass and the Pit movie [it appears to be sold out]

They also stock similar figures from the earlier Quatermass Xperiment

These figures look like Mego for sure and I appreciate the retro packaging. They are also Xpensive but as I don't have any I can't comment on value for money. 

Monsters In Motion stock many limited edition collectable figures like these from lots of different classic sci-fi and horror films.

https://www.monstersinmotion.com/cart/index.php

What do you think?

Have any of you got any of these figures? Has anyone been to the California store?

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POSTSCRIPT

IT! The Terror From Beyond Space

US Reader Brian found this in Wildwood. Brian says its not Mego but more in scale with Star Wars figures. Looks like it has an extra face!

monsters on the loose: kong and calvin

Pounding my Amazon Prime membership to death I've watched two 'blockbusters' this week that I missed first time round at the flicks, LIFE and Kong: Skull Island.

I enjoyed them both but as its just a sleep away since Kong finished, like Bishop in ALIEN, I'm still collating.

There is much that could be said about both but for now I shall let the ape's great roar fade from my earlugs before I say anything. 

red planet recall

OK, I've finished watching the movie Red Planet on Amazon Prime.

Overall I enjoyed it and in particular I liked the focus on hardware especially that from previous Mars missions, both American and Russian. The idea of upcycling old machinery in space appeals to me greatly and I can see it being a realistic proposition for future astronauts. Does it feature in many other films  do you know?

The more fantastical elements were less appealing for some reason. The algae-chomping weevils seemed an after-thought and poorly realised. At least in Apollo 18 the rock insects were the whole story and not just a brief scurry in the plot.

Similarly Aimee the bad robot seemed adrift in a droid strop but to be fair bad robots in flicks are hard to pull off. Think of DARYL, Saturn 5, Hardware to name a few rogues. Terminator did it but then again they had Arnie not Aimee.

Finally, the human element. Its always tricky. It either works or it doesn't. Carrie-Anne Moss's competent Captain was convincing enough bringing the mothership back from the brink. Not a sweaty, hard working Lt.. Ripley by a long chalk though but there can only ever be one beleaguered ship like the Nostromo and that's ..well, the Nostromo.

Val Kilmer was annoying. I'm not sure he can be taken seriously with his permanent grin. He was serious in HEAT though so he can do it. His fellow HEAT actor Tom Sizemore did a much better job as the double PhD geneticist trying to figure out where the algae had gone.

The rest of the crew, Stamp, Baker and Bratt, were just ballast and never given the time or the space to develop I felt. It was obvious that they would be toast.

All that said, I enjoyed Red Planet. Did you? Was there any merchandising?

american readers: are you watching the eclipse?

I'm keeping up with the total eclipse on the telly here in the UK.

I'm very envious of our American readers who will hopefully be able to see it in its totality!

Are you watching over in the USA?

Watch out for the Sun's atmosphere, the Corona.

Someone get a Project SWORD or Golden Astronaut toy in a photograph with the eclipse please!

Shuttle Service

August continues to be a favourable month for vintage plastic for me as quite by chance I spotted this lovely red shuttle recently. Its another chicken and egg situation, as this and the many variations by Blue Box and AHI among others, seem to depend from the small red shuttle in the Imperial and Apollo Moon Exploring toys sets. As to which toy is the earliest, is hard to say, however this red friction version has some very interesting details. 

Firstly, it has a swordesque sticker on the hull reading 'Payva'. This could be either spanish or russian, but seems to suggest foreign manufacture. Although there are no makers marks at all, the manufacturer seems to have made an effort to distance the toy from its other iterations.  

Most notable is the double exhausts on the rear as opposed to triple on the small toy and all succeeding versions such as Blue Box. This panel design on the upper hull has one large rather than two separate squares, a design which AHI neglected to change on their purple chrome version. Unfortunately, that and the carded rocket left the Wotan archives during a cash flow crisis and ive only got the old auction photograph left.

The Blue Box version, which is considerably more easy to find has a different styling again on the top and also opts for slim nacelles on the wingtips to either avoid copyright infringements, or to just modernise the toy slightly. However, I much prefer this odd red version which matches the cleaner lines if its smaller cousin and sports an interesting new engine layout.

what's the favourite thing you ever bought on holiday?

Holidays were and are great times for buying stuff.

As a nipper in the Sixties I always spent a few shillings on sweets, comics, plastic toys and other essential tat.

My best purchase ever was a rubber dinghy. I loved that thing and can see me now just off the breakers in Wales smashing the hell out of kelp with my oar. I pretended that they were sea monsters. In fact my older Sister whose family I went to Abersoch with always asked me if I was going to be playing at monsters that day! ha ha.

I remember not having enough cash for the dinghy, which was hung in the Warren resort's beach shop like a prize turkey. For some reason I seem to recall getting more cash from my Parents miles away in Preston but how could they have done that? No idea.

God I remember how chuffed I was to actually go and buy the thing, which was already inflated in front of the shop. I walked it back to the caravan with a lot of difficulty but it was my absolute pride and joy that hot Welsh summer long ago.

What was your favourite thing you bought on holiday readers?

geek salad scalliwags

Its always good to get away for a few days. We've been to Skipton. Yep, to recharge the ol' battery packs.

Its always fun to spot vintage stuff and old friends whilst travelling. The geek travels in me.

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So I had to laugh. In our Bed and Breakfast room was this radiator dial. I immediately thought ....

 stormtrooper! ha ha.

Have you seen any household items which remind you of films, sci fi or toys?

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In Skipton I also saw an old pal in the window of an Aquatics shop.

The Jewel Box Collection skeleton pirate by fish tank toy maestro's Penn Plax.

I've loved Penn Plax ever since I discovered that they released an aerating Creature from the Black Lagoon, one of the most iconic monster collectables ever.

I could easily collect Penn Plax skeletons. In fact all pirate skeletons really. Part of such a collection would have to be MPC's Pirates of the Caribbean - like their brilliant Dead Man's Raft.

Not wanting to spend a King's ransom on an original kit reader Jeff Saucerman has kindly let me know that for a few dabloons you could bag the Lindberg re-issue in their Jolly Roger line, Hex Marks the Spot!

Anyone collect skeleton kits and toys?

SIXTEEN 12 ULTRA DELUXE HANGAR SET PREVIEW PHOTOS

Sixteen 12 Collectables have released a set of preview photos giving a hint of what their forthcoming Deluxe Hangar set will look like.

The diorama will feature a Rescue Eagle and a Laboratory Eagle with Spine Boosters. For illustrative purposes this photo shows the original Product Enterprise releases, however the proposed models that come with the set will feature much more authentic looking aluminium engine bells.

Another view showing the Magnetic Air Lock attached to the Rescue Eagle, which also has a set of Pod Entry Stairs.

Another couple of views showing the Magnetic Air Lock, plus a neat looking Alan Carter with other technical and engineering staff figures.

A view showing the Laboratory Eagle and the Spine booster. The Engine Bells on the Spine Booster will also be aluminium.

Bear in mind the model Eagles shown are the original P.E.releases, as the new ones are in production, and Sixteen 12 Collectables point out that the red stripes will be the correct width and spacing.

As with the other proposed new Eagle sets from Sixteen 12 Collectables, this will have a limited run of 1000, with the price to be announced very shortly.

For anyone wishing to reserve a set, under no obligation here's the link to their website. - remember to turn your sound down a notch though.

http://www.sixteen12.com/s1999_ep_5.html